Undergarment



A. J. LEGGE Feb. 16; 1932,

UNDERGARMENT Filed NOV.` 1l, 1230 Vl l l Patented Feb. 16, 1932 t i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i Application nea November 11, 1930. sentirne. 494,843.

This invention relates to an improved un- 'and this is ordinarily provided for by means der garment, and has for one of its principal of a fold or pleat as shown at 14, this being objects the provision of an under garment, accomplished by making the lower portion of particularly for women, which is of the slip the garment of a piece of cloth of greater type, and which is adapted particularly for diameter and circumference than the upper 55 the convenience and comfort of the wearer, portion. The fold or pleat being madeat especially when assuming a sitting position. 14 to allow for this extra circumference and One of the important objects of this inalso to allow spreading at this point `and a vention is to provide in an under garment or flare at the bottom. The portion ofthe pleat l0 slip for women, an article of clothing which Shown extending above the line off'stitching 60 will have the desired straight sides or down- 16 in Figure 1 is `simply doubled over as wardly extending edges, while at the same indicated in Figure 2, but the line of stitchtime affording suitable room for expansion ing follows the folds of the pleat. for fullness, especially at the hips. In addition to the fold or pleat 14, there 15 Still another and further important object sprovided "a vertical slit as best illustrated `55 of this invention is to provide in a garment, at 18, this slit being formed adjacent the outand particularly in an under garment, means er edge of the fold 14, and preferably extendfor allowing of expansion of same at points ing from the line of stitching 16 downwardly where such expansion is necessary or desired, to a point slightly above the lowermost edge 2O while at the same time assuring the wearer of the garment,`so that an opening is here 70 of both comfort and complete concealment, afforded whichopening, however, does not thereby avoiding embarrassment. allow of any undue spreading of the lower Other and further important objects of the edge -Or hem 20. 1 invention will be v'apparent from the disclo- Behind the slit 18 is positioned an extra sures in the accompanying drawings and the piece of cloth 22 ofthe same material `as the 75 following Specaon, remainder ofthe garment, this being fastened The invention, in a preferred form, is in position at its upper edge by means of the shown in the drawings and is hereinafter line of stitching 16 and at its lower edge by more fully described. means of aline of stitching 24. This piece 30 In the drawings: of cloth 22 serves to cover that portion of 80 Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the imthe body of the wearer which would be otherproved under garment of this invention, porwise exposed when the garment is expanded tions of the upper part thereof being broken and the slit 18 1s opened, particularly when away as not essential. the wearer assumes a stooping or sitting pos- F lgure 2 is a detail sectional view taken `tn re somewhat 21S illustrated nFigure 3. It` 85 0n the line 2 2 of Figure 1. will be noted that the fold 14 is also expand- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the gared, thereby allowingrample room for expanment in position on a wearer, and illustratsion ofthe garment about such portions of ing the expansion effect for a sitting posture. `the Wearcrs anatomy which would otherwise As shown in the drawings: y be considerably restricted and uncomfortable The reference numeral 10 indicates genin this position, or which might exercise such erally the body portion of an under garment, a strain on the ordinary garment as to split preferably one known as the slip type, having or rip the same. The `vertical dotted lines the usual shoulder straps 12 for proper sup- 1n Figure 1 indicate the extent or area ofthe 45 port thereof. It will be noted that the garelement 22.

ment has straight, downwardly extending It will be noted that there aretwo of the sides. extra j pieces of cloth 22 positioned in `the In the usual garment of this type, provi- `backof the garment, these being spaced from sion must be made for a Hare at the bottom each other as illustrated at 28, this space beto allow ofnecessary expansion at this point,` ing preferablyenlarged downwardly where-`` 100 desired splitting, ripping, or other action which might result in exposure of the person. I am aware that changes may be ,made and numerous details ofconstruction si varied throughout a wide range without ldeparting from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than 'as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: Y

1. Anhexpansion garment, comprising upper and lower body portions, the lower portion being of greater diameter and circumference than the upper portion, and a fold Y in the lower portion to reduce the apparent circumference thereof, said fold being open fromrthe line of stitching downwardly to the hem of the garment,said lower portion additionally having slits formed therein, said slitsex-tending from the line of stitching to a .point substantially above the hem, together with .inserts behind the slits.

2. An vexpansion garment, comprising upper and lower body portions, the lower portion being of greater diameterand circumference than the upper portion, and a fold .in the lower portion to reduce the apparent circumference thereof, said fold being open from the line lof stitching downwardly to v the hem of the garment, said lower 'portion additionally having slits forme-d therein, said slits extending from the line `of stitching to a point substantially above the hem, t0- gether with inserts behind the slits, said inserts `being fastened to the garment along their Atop and bottom edges.

3. An expansion garment, comprising upper and lower body portions, the lower portion being of greater diameter and circumo ference than the upper portion, and a fold in l'the lower portion to reduce the apparent cir- Ito cumference thereof, said fold being open downwardly to they hemjofthe garment, said lower portion 'additionally having slits formed therein, said slits extending to a point substantially above the hem, together with inserts behind 4the slits, said inserts being V.

fastened to the garment along their top vand bottom edges.

4. An expansion garment, comprising up-- iper and lower body por-tions, the lower portion being kof greater diameter-and circurnference than the upper portion, and a fold in the lower portion to reduce the apparent circumference thereof, said fold being open downwardly to the hem of the garment, said lower' portion additionally having slits formed therein, said slits extending to a pointsubstantially above the hem, together with, inserts behind the slits, saidinserts being, fastened to the garment along their top and bottom edges, the top edge fastening being above the uppermost limits of the slits, and the lower edge fastening being along a lin'e substantially above the garment hem.

ln testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

' "LGEO J. LEGGE. 

